A Manchester woman who fraudulently claimed £110,000 in benefits has been sentenced to 20 months behind bars.
The 51-year-old woman admitted to four counts of benefit fraud at Manchester Magistrates' Court on August 12.
The woman stole £110,000 in benefits that she was entitled to after failing to inform the Department for Work & Pensions of changes to her living circumstances.
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She dishonestly claimed Job Seekers' Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Support between April 2013 and April 2023.
The case emerged after an anonymous tip-off.
It triggered a joint investigation by the DWP Pensions Regional Investigations team and Manchester City Council.
Transformation Minister Andrew Western said "our social security system exists to support the most vulnerable in society and those genuinely in need".
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The Department for Work & Pensions | PAHe added that they "will continue to take legal action to fight those trying to scam the system".
Mr Western also warned that "if anyone thinks they can get away with it, this case shows that they will be brought to justice".
It comes after a man who fraudulently obtained nearly £170,000 through a benefit fraud scam admitted to assuming the identities of 68 individuals to submit false Universal Credit applications.
James Stephen Barley, aged 37, appeared before Carlisle's Rickergate court, where he entered guilty pleas to three charges relating to the extensive fraud scheme.
Manchester Magistrates' Court
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The Paisley resident submitted 157 fraudulent benefit applications between December 2018 and March 2021.
Court proceedings revealed that Barley systematically used other people's personal information to lodge Universal Credit applications, with each claim including requests for advance payments.
The total sum obtained through the illegal activities amounted to £169,045.
Despite currently holding legitimate employment with weekly earnings of £700, Barley faces potential imprisonment when he appears for sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court on September 9.
The charge states that he "hijacked the identity" of the people involved, creating false documentation to support the benefit applications.
The documents include fabricated tenancy agreements, bank statements and correspondence regarding newly opened accounts.
Barley faced three charges at the magistrates' court: fraud by false representation for the 157 bogus claims made whilst impersonating 68 individuals, creating documents for fraudulent purposes, and obtaining criminal proceeds totalling £169,045.
Prosecutor Diane Jackson explained that the defendant utilised personal information from multiple victims to submit the Universal Credit applications.
She said: "In each new claim, advanced payments were applied for."
The magistrates determined their sentencing powers were inadequate given the substantial sum involved.
The case was transferred the case to the Crown Court.